Residents of Them ïew Mawlong in Meghalaya got another 30 days to submit their documents to prove that they are legal settlers in the area.
On May 31, the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) based on the direction of the High Level Committee (HLC) carried out the second inventory survey and issued notices to over 300 households at Them ïew Mawlong urging them to submit documents to prove that they are genuine settlers of the area.
The residents got one month time to submit their documents between June 3 and July 3.
However, no one had come forward to submit their documents till July 3.
The High Level Committee in its meeting chaired by deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday discussed the issue and decided to extend the time by another 30 days to the residents to submit their documents.
The 30 days period will be counted from the day when the Shillong Municipal Board would start issuing fresh notices to the residents.
Notices would be also served to the residents and their legal counsel, besides chairman of the Harijan Panchayat Committee.
When asked, what if settlers at Them ïew Mawlong refuse to respond to the notices, Tynsong said, “The direction of the Meghalaya High Court was very clear that the residents should cooperate with the inventory survey being carried out by the Shillong Municipal Board in the area. Whether they would come forward or not it is up to them to decide.”
On action against government employees staying in the area if they also refuse to cooperate, Tynsong said that the HLC would wait till the 30 days period is over.
On the allegation of the Harijan Panchayat Committee that Tynsong has made a statement which was a “polite threat” to the residents to vacate the area, Tynsong said, “Whatever they say, it is up to them. They claimed that they have been here for 200 years. I hope they will have not any problem in producing documents especially when we have extended the time.”
Tynsong earlier stated that the government wanted to find permanent solution to the long pending issue at Them ïew Mawlong since settlers in the area are living in a horrible condition as the place is congested and very unhygienic.